Rita Hayworth wasn't always the auburn haired sex symbol most famously remembered as being the vampy "Gilda", she was born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn to a flamenco dancer father and a Ziegfield girl dancer for a mother.

Margarita was put through an extensive makeover (her hairline was raised via a series of very painful electrolysis treatments...this was in the 40s folks!), asked to lose 30 lbs, and dye her naturally dark hair to auburn (she was also blonde and red haired at some points) and change her name so she sounded and looked less Latina.

I'm happy to see Rita Hayworth listed as a style icon, but I'm not crazy about the way this article was executed. "And voila! A star is born!" makes it sound as though it was a good thing that she had to change her beautiful Spanish features and name.